If you’ve booked a taxi to collect you from Birmingham New Street, the most practical meeting point is usually the station’s Drop and Go on Hill Street. Its postcode is B2 4ND. Network Rail lists it as the station’s pick-up and drop-off point, and it connects directly to the station’s Hill Street entrance.
The hackney carriage ranks are a different matter. They’re for black cabs and metered taxis you pick up on the spot, not pre-booked private hire cars. This guide explains where each type of taxi stops and which exit to use. It also covers what to do if your train runs late, so you meet your driver without circling the station.
Where taxis stop at Birmingham New Street
| Type of taxi | Where it stops | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked private hire, including NET | Drop and Go, Hill Street (B2 4ND) | Agree this point before you travel |
| Hackney carriages from the rank | Rank on Navigation Street, near the Stephenson Street / Victoria Square exit | Metered, first come, first served |
| Accessible hackney rank | Beside Thousand Trade Square, off Smallbrook Queensway | Listed in Network Rail’s accessibility guide |
| Any taxi dropping off | Drop and Go, Hill Street | Also has Blue Badge drop-off bays |
Rank layouts and road access around the station can change during works or events. On the day, follow the station signs if something looks different.
Why pre-booked taxis don’t use the rank
Birmingham has two kinds of taxi. Hackney carriages, usually black cabs, can queue at ranks and pick up anyone who walks up. Private hire vehicles must be booked in advance through a licensed operator, and they can’t wait on a hackney rank for passengers.
In practice, that means your pre-booked taxi won’t be sitting in the queue on Navigation Street. If you walk to the rank looking for it, you’ll probably end up phoning your driver from the wrong side of the station. Agreeing the Drop and Go in advance avoids that.
How to reach the Hill Street Drop and Go
New Street has several entrances, and they’re easy to mix up after a long journey. The station sits beneath the Grand Central shopping centre. The main exits include:
- Stephenson Street: the main front entrance, next to the Grand Central tram stop.
- Navigation Street: on the western side, near the hackney rank.
- Hill Street: on the western side of the station, leading to the Drop and Go.
- Thousand Trade Square / Smallbrook Queensway: on the Bullring side of the station.
From the platforms, head up to the main concourse and follow the signs for Hill Street and the Drop and Go. The station is step-free, with lifts and escalators serving the platforms. The Hill Street entrance has accessible lifts at street level, and the Drop and Go includes four Blue Badge bays for drop-offs.
If you’re unsure which way to go, ask station staff or use one of the help points. There’s one inside the Drop and Go, next to the accessible bays.
How to arrange a smooth pickup after your train
A pre-booked taxi only works if you and your driver agree the details in advance. When you book, give us:
- Your train’s arrival time and where it’s coming from. Then we can plan the pickup around the right service.
- The pickup point. Name the Drop and Go on Hill Street rather than just “New Street”.
- A mobile number you’ll have switched on. Your driver can then call or text when they arrive.
- Passengers and luggage. That way, we can send a vehicle with enough space.
After you get off the train, message or call your driver as you walk up to the concourse. Tell them which exit you’re heading to. That small step saves most of the confusion at a busy station.
What to do if your train is late
Delays and cancellations happen. If your train is running late, contact us as soon as you know, with the new arrival time. It’s also worth telling us if you’ve been diverted to another station.
Check that you’ve arrived at the right station, too. Birmingham has three city-centre stations: New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill. Moor Street is only a short walk from New Street, while Snow Hill is a little further away, on the other side of the city centre. If your plans change and you end up at a different station, tell us straight away.
Our guide to late-night and early-morning taxis in Birmingham covers what to expect if a delay pushes you past the last trains or buses.
Taking a taxi to New Street for your train
Dropping off works the same way in reverse. Your driver takes you into the Drop and Go on Hill Street, and you walk straight into the station from there.
Allow for city-centre traffic at peak times, and leave extra time if you have heavy luggage or need assistance at the station. If you’ve booked Passenger Assist, allow time to reach the meeting point and check in with staff.
New Street sits inside Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone. If a friend or relative drives you in an older car that doesn’t meet the emission standards, they may have to pay the daily charge. A pre-booked taxi means you don’t have to think about that.
Need a taxi to meet your train? You can get a fixed-price quote and have the pickup arranged before you travel.
Popular journeys from Birmingham New Street
To Birmingham Airport
Trains from New Street to Birmingham International take around 10 minutes, and the free Air-Rail Link then takes you to the terminal. For solo travellers with light bags, that’s quick and simple. A taxi makes more sense with heavy luggage, children or an early flight. Our Birmingham Airport transfers include flight monitoring for the return trip.
To the NEC and events
Many visitors arrive at New Street before heading to an exhibition or concert. If you’d rather go straight from the station to the venue, read our guide to taking a taxi to NEC Birmingham. It covers drop-off points and event-day timing.
Across Birmingham and nearby towns
A pre-booked Birmingham taxi is handy when your final address isn’t close to a tram stop or bus route. That includes trips to Edgbaston, Harborne and Moseley, or out to Solihull and Sutton Coldfield. Our coverage area page lists the towns we serve.
Longer trips and other airports
Some passengers change from rail to road at New Street for a longer journey, such as a transfer to Heathrow or Manchester Airport. A fixed price agreed in advance is usually easier to plan around than a metered fare. Our comparison of fixed-price and metered taxis explains why.
Taxi or public transport from New Street?
New Street sits at the heart of Birmingham’s transport network. It’s close to the Grand Central tram stop, and buses stop on Smallbrook Queensway and Hill Street. For a solo traveller heading somewhere on a tram or bus route, public transport is often cheaper.
A taxi is the better choice in other situations:
- You’re carrying heavy luggage.
- You’re travelling with children or as a group.
- You’re arriving late at night.
- Your destination is away from a stop.
Our taxi vs public transport comparison looks at these trade-offs in more detail.
Groups and business travellers
If you’re arriving with colleagues or family, one larger vehicle keeps everyone together. Our Mercedes V-Class seats up to seven passengers, with room for luggage.
Companies whose staff or visitors regularly arrive at New Street can set up a corporate travel account. Journeys are invoiced monthly rather than paid trip by trip.
Book your taxi from Birmingham New Street
NET Airport Transfers runs pre-booked taxis to and from Birmingham New Street at any time of day. Your price is fixed when you book, and your driver knows to meet you at the Drop and Go on Hill Street. Book your New Street taxi online, or contact us about group bookings and regular pickups.
